Rotorheads calendar October 2012

[John Eacott]

Another stunning image courtesy of Kia Kia Media’s Ned Dawson: an MD500E operated by Jack Harter Helicopters on the island of Kauai. Neville was on a photo shoot and took this one along the Pali coastline.

Wide screen size:

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/5147-1/October+2012+wide+thumb.jpg (http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/5144-1/October+2012+wide.jpg)

Standard screen size:

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/5152-1/October+2012+thumb.jpg (http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/5149-1/October+2012.jpg)


As always, for Windows users click on the thumbnail to open a higher resolution full picture, and then right click to select “Set as Background”. Mac users should select the background via System Preferences.

[vrtcld]

Nice shot, thanks.

[Aser]

Thanks! :ok:

[Nigel Osborn]

Terrific photo but I'm intrigued to see them flying with passengers, tourists?, over the sea along a very rugged coastline with no floatation or life jackets on. The pilot may be wearing a pouch type but in Oz we must wear it, can't see one on the passenger though. Wonder if they had a life raft!:ok:

[HeliHenri]

All the pax wear a life jacket, I don't know the word in english but it's a kind of belt pack.

and it"s not a MD500N ! :O
.

[Gordy]

you can see the pilot life jacket on his lap---they are quick donning jackets.

[MartinCh]

E model, right? other 'N' from MD closest up would be 520N notar.
I didn't want to be the first one to nag about little detail, sort of Emperor's New Clothes. :hmm:

[Nigel Osborn]

I didn't make my point clear in that in Oz we have to undo the pouch & put the life jacket over our head. The idea is that once in the water it would be very hard to do that, especially for the pilot who would be pi**ing himself & would have both hands full! If the passengers are wearing a pouch jacket, the chances are they have never taken one out & certainly not in a HUET. I've seen aircrew try that in a HUET & most found it difficult under water, hence CASA requires the jacket on. Even a lot of offshore companies won't accept pouch jackets.
My other point is no floats which means a successful ditching would be that much harder, particularly for first time tourists. There's no beach to swim to either.
Just a safety concern for discussion.

[Gordy]

Firstly, one would pull the jack out of the pouch once out of the helicopter----and yes it is easier----that way it does not get punctured on the way out.

Secondly, the picture is deceiving, there is a beach right in front of them just off camera... They are about a half mile offshore from Kee beach on the North side of Kauai. (Flew the exact same tours for 7 years). One of the requirements is to be within "gliding distance of a suitable forced landing area". The FAA patrols heavily there, and have not as yet proven anyone to break that rule---even though they tried.

[HeliHenri]

The photo is : :ok:

Hello Gordy, We can see 2 beaches at the top right, there're the same kind of what you are talking about, isn't it ?

[Gordy]

The beaches in the top right are Kalalau and Honopu beaches, (featured in many movies--you may recognize the whole shoreline from "Six day Seven nights"). Kalalau is the long one, about a mile long, and Honopu is seperated by the arch:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/fw1003.jpg

The helicopter is off shore between Kee beach and Hanakapia.

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/KeeRainbow1.jpg

You can see people on the left side of Kee to give your perspective:

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j35/helokat/fw1095.jpg

[Cleared-HOT]

Kauai looks like a gorg place.

[DonQuixote23]

November image on the way?